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Show rA 0 - September 6, 2001 B team takes on work with impact lamp Jill" SWAT by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Armed with the latest equipment and ready at a commander's notice, Hill's SWAT members are constantly on the go. But the "weapon" of choice for this elite force is usually a nail gun because Hill's SWAT members are part of the Special Work Action Team under the 75th Civil Engineering Group's Structural Repair Flight. They're responsible for large new construction projects. "We tend to take on projects the commanders want done quickly and done well. The type of work the SWAT takes on tends to have an impact.Tlight Commander Capt. PaulWaite said. The SWAT is one of the flight's five shops. Others include the Metal Shop, Sign Shop, Asbestos and Paint Abatement Shop and a high-intere-st Lead-Base- d one-perso- shop that handles contracted n work orders. Besides new construction and electrical work, roof repair and the locking mechanisms are SWATs responsibility. e structural modifications and work-ordlevel jobs that require more than 50 hours some are projects the SWAT completes. That often includes electrical work. The team was er High-profil- responsible for completing recent Operat- ional Readiness Inspection and Aerospace Expeditionary Force work. Waite said the SWAT is one of several organizations that will support the Bright Star exercise in Egypt this October. One of the shop's veteran employees is civilian supervisor Gary Sanzone, who has worked with SWAT for 15 years 12 as an airman, before becoming a civil servant. "Almost my whole career has been right here. I love it here," Sanzone said. He enjoys working on several projects at once, which comes in handy when commane ders simultaneously request promission. Current the that projects impact jects include a Bldg. 15 remodel and squadron office accommodations. The office is also wrapping up a complete remodel of "Fast Kitchen. Eddies" a 388th Sanzone said the number of military members here fluctuates, with an average of 10, but there are always four civilian roofers, three locksmiths, an electrician and Sanzone. He said seeing the crew's final result is rewarding. "WTien you see a building you helped build g office we can say or walk by a and it's there forever," he said. we did that Sanzone said SWAT members are responsible for a lot of planning. For example, they can create a plan for an office area a customer wants to redesign. However, they don't usually work on details like picking colors or carpet they leave that to their customers. While they aren't interior decorators, the SWAT Shop does pay attention to detail to make sure they get it right the first time. "I enjoy the construction," SWAT member Tech. Sgt. Thomas Otto said. "If we go to do a job we get the opportunity to really spend the time and do it right. Typically we have the time to fix all the problems we see that are associated with the job when we go into a building . We look above and beyond and if we notice other things are wrong we take the time to fix them." wb miijwhii w mmmmw m iphiw wlnyyuim high-profil- good-lookin- 7" r ? ty V --' Y' ' - - Photo by Mary Galbraith Shop member Don Chase, above, repairs a base roof. He said the base has a mixture of metal, rubber and steel roofs. Chase said metal roofs hold up best, as long as screws aren't exposed to the elements. Senior Airman Daniel Day, left, easily bends pipe using portable Senior equipment. SWAT lE : 'Wl " Do : pc Airman Kenneth Boyd , cuts plywood below, A 100 amp using shop equipment. Although the machine was $25,000, Capt. Paul Waite says it has paid for itself because It significantly saves time. sub panel is one of several pro- jects SWAT electricians Shop are working on. -- , . , , - 't power i - r a fry ; ' , i n 1 j Jeff Fouks seals a recently repaired patch of roof. The white paint protects the surface from extending roof life. purcHiasimig . j 7"a:: Card gives . i UV rays by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Tools aren't the only thing helping members of the Special Worjk Action Team finish projects on time. International Merchant Purchase Authorization Cards have an affect on the shop's timeline. "You're able to go quickly to purchase those parts instead of waiting for other supply channels. And, you can go get the specific part that day," Structural Repair Flight Commander Capt. Paul Waite said. Sticking to a timetable isn't the card's only benefit. "The nice thing about that is the actual craftsman goes down and sees what he wants. It's not a supply person saying I think this is what he wants. He actually can go and pick up that part and say yeah, this is going to work for me," Gary Sanzone, civilian supervisor, said. The cards help craftsmen get the tools on time so they can finish projects. "The priority for me as a flight commander is to make sure these guys get the right equipment so they can do a good job," Waite said. |